4 years of waiting begins tomorrow

Well tomorrow (Sunday) starts what will be the fastest meet in the world over the last 4 years. It seems like just yesterday we were in Long Beach at the 2004 Trials. This meet will be even bigger. 13,000 fans watching some very fast swimming. We had our coaches technical meeting today, and were told about all of the pyrotechnics that will be happening when world records are broken. Tomorrow and the remainder of this week will change athletes lives. There are 1,250 athletes at this meet. This represents one half of one percent of all USA swimming registered athletes. Of these 1,250 athletes, 26 men and 26 women will be chosen to represent USA at the Beijing Games (selection procedure here). We had two great workouts today, and both Leah and Joe looked and felt really good. I was also talking with Tricia's coaches as we were watching her swim, and her backstroke looks really good, and she was riding very high on the water. On Sunday, Leah will swim the 400 IM. Remember NBC will be web casting the prelims.

In our technical meeting today we talked about the media attention for this meet. Over 250 media have been credentialed for this meet, and all of the major TV, Print, Radio, and new media are in attendance. There is an aura to this meet like no other in the world. It is great to have WSY represented at the fastest meet in the world.

One of the stats that we all have to keep in mind regarding the pressure at this meet......at the 2004 trials in Long Beach, only 18% of the swims were faster than the seed times. Athletes must really keep the stress level down, and well as the nerves calm.

Joe spent some time tonight at dinner with his college teammates at UNC, and Leah spent time with her family in the "Aqua Zone" here at the meet. I went for a nice dinner with my room ate for the week Tim Verge (Head Coach at Shippensburg) who is spectating this week. Tim is a good friend who is doing some great things with Shippensburg Swimming and being here at this meet, he will experience some fast swimming.

I continue to get updates from the swimmers at the Penn State meet. We have had some new Y national qualifiers, and some fast swims. We have a photo gallery of the meet here. Continued success to everyone.

I will update after prelims on Sunday.......GO WSY!!!!